Christian Meditation - How Christians Meditate

Christian meditation is considered one of the Christian disciplines.

Meditation could be described as the use of various techniques and practices to develop spiritual insight and personal growth and change. It's been defined as "continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of deep or abstruse nature" (word.net.Princeton.edu) or "To think or reflect, especially in a calm and deliberate manner."(answers.com).

Difference Between Christian Meditation and Other Meditation

You may wonder how Christian meditation differs from other meditation techniques. Basically, it focuses on the teachings of the Bible. It involves thinking about the words of God.

How is it the same? It involves focusing, concentrating intently on a teaching (concentrative meditation). It also involves taking in the vastness of the creation and "listening" to the world with the belief that God is manifest in all His creation, (external awareness meditation).

The Bible is replete with examples of followers of God meditating.

King David, who was born around 1040 BC, wrote of meditating in the Old Testament.

"...and I will meditate on your wonderful works" - Psalm 145:5

"My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises" - Psalm 119:145

"I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways" - Psalm 119:15

"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight,...." - Psalm 19:14

An anonymous psalmist dedicates a whole chapter meditating on the wonders of the earth and God's creations in Psalm 104.

Christian Meditation in the New Testament

Jesus withdrew regularly from his disciples and the crowds to go to the hills and be alone with God. And he would return with renewed energy to continue his work.

Paul wrote about meditating in some of his letters, the below examples written around 60AD -

"Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your minds on things above...... not on earthly things." Colossians 3:1,2

"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, - think about such things." - Philippians 4:8

From these examples, we see that the Christian Bible teaches people to meditate, ponder, think deeply about the precepts of God, his promises, and his works. And it speaks of other kinds of things to think (meditate) about - things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.

You set your mind to think about these kinds of things - these "things above" - in place of your stress-producing problems. Not that there isn't a time to think about your problems. But it's the repositioning of your mind through meditation that helps you see your problems in a new and clearer light.

Other Ways Christians Meditate

For Christians, speaking psalms and singing songs of praise are a type of Christian meditation. You put your mind on "things above" as you "speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Eph. 5:19-20

Even prayer can be a type of meditation as you ponder and "listen" for answers to your concerns.

Dr. Archibald Hart commented that meditation is not "owned" by religion. It's always been around. Meditations of all kinds have been found to be amazing stress relievers.

Meditation and How the Human Body Works

The human body is an amazing creation! Science is still learning how it works. The ability to meditate is hard-wired into man. When we meditate we are lowering our stress level by reducing cortisol production. It's stated in the Handbook of Religion and Health, that prayer, meditation and faith may be associated with lower serum cortisol levels.

Dr. Vincent Giampapa, MD, prominent anti-aging researcher and past president of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine states, that regular, deep meditation causes levels of cortisol to be reduced by an average of 47% in 70% of the people studies.

Ready-Made Stress Relief Techniques

Christian meditation consists of meditating on God's words in the Bible, taking in the beauty and wonder of his creation, along with prayer, and praising him in songs and words. How amazing that the creator, whom Christians put their faith in, has given them ready-made stress relief techniques that have been in existence as long as man has been!

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